National Grid customers lack ‘big picture’

By G. Michael Dobbs
Managing Editor
So, representatives from National Grid met with customers from East Longmeadow last week to answer questions why the town was without electricity for three days following the June 1 tornado.
Really? The fact a tornado tore through the power lines that bring juice to East Longmeadow wasn’t apparent? Seriously, this is an issue now?
Apparently some folks missed out on the concept that although power cables are underground in town, the lines conveying the electricity here are above ground in other communities and subject to interference by falling trees.
I have seen instances of great kindness and consideration from people  many of whom have little connection to the areas affected by the storm  as well as incidents in which people have tried to take advantage of the misfortunes of others.
This meeting, though, showed a few people seem to lack a “big picture” approach to this issue. They may want to consider they were inconvenienced for three days more than a month ago while there are still people without homes.

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Congrats to Chicopee’s own Sabina Gadecki who, according to the bible of show business, Variety, has landed a meaty role in an upcoming movie adaptation of an Elmore Leonard novel. Gadecki has joined a cast that includes Crispin Glover, Bill Duke and Christian Slater for the film “Freaky Deaky.”
Watch this young woman  she has the talent, drive and looks to go very far in the business.

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Would Chicopee’s Mayor Michael Bissonnette get greater cooperation from a city council if it had new members? It’s possible and this election year will be an interesting one if the would-be candidates who have taken out papers actually wind up on the ballot and stage credible campaigns against incumbents.
That’s a lot of maybes, though.

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I had another blast from my past while walking through Stop & Shop the other day. There was a display for Mallo Cups.
“They still make them?” I asked myself.
Remember them? Chocolate cups with a soft marshmallow center?
Next to them was another display, this one for Bonomo’s Turkish Taffy. Really? Yes, apparently the original recipe for this chewy candy  it could pull a filling right out of your tooth  was bought by a new company that returned the confection to the market this year.
As much as both fascinated me, I showed extreme will power and did not partake.

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A good rule is to never discuss religion and politics. Sometimes I just don’t follow rules very well.
Religion is playing an increasing role in this presidential election and it’s making me a bit nervous.
“Fox & Friends” host Ainsley Earhardt opined July 17 that Mitt Romney’s chances for the Republican nomination might be impacted by the fact he is “obviously not a Christian.”
The name of Romney’s church is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Romney is a Christian.
Herman Cain, the former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, is also a Republican running for president and perhaps he understands that being a Mormon shouldn’t be an impediment. Now, being a Muslim, well, that’s something else.
Cain said on “Fox News Sunday,” that he opposes the construction of a mosque in Tennessee and believes any community should have the right to block a mosque.
He stated, “Let’s go back to the fundamental issue that the people are basically saying that they are objecting to. They are objecting to the fact that Islam is both religion and [a] set of laws, Shariah law. That’s the difference between any one of our other traditional religions where it’s just about religious purposes. The people in the community know best. And I happen to side with the people in the community.”
If members of a community objected to the construction of a church or temple, their unfounded fears and prejudices trump the Constitution?
Seriously, is this what this election is going to be about?
Hey, agree with me? Disagree? Drop me a line at news@thereminder.com or at 280 N. Main St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. As always, this column represents the opinion of its author and not the publishers or advertisers of this newspaper.